Ship brake



April 30, 1940. .1. G. DUNKLINY SHIP BRAKE Filed Aug. 19, 1938 JOHN 6.

INVENTOR. DUN K L IN ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES SHIP BRAKE John G. Dunklin, Needles, Calif.

Application August 19,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in brakes for ships and the like,

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient device of the character 5 described.

Another object is to provide an improved device for assisting the braking action of a ship under emergency circumstances.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of the bow of a ship illustrating my invention in connection therewith and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show the bow portion of a boat 5 having housing 6 secured at the apex thereof above the water line. Housing 6 is provided with cylinder 1 containing a piston 8 having a piston rod 8A which extends through an aperture 9 in the bottom thereof and which is connected to a frame l provided with a pair of guide rollers l I, the frame l0 extending upwardly along the housing 6 and provided with an abutment I2 adapted to be held by a hook l3 pivoted at M to a cylinder housing l5. Cylinder I is provided with an air compression chamber Hi and a piston l'l connected to a piston rod 18 pivoted at [9 to hook 13. Frame I0 is hinged at either side at 20 to a pair of brake fins 2i, compressed air cylinders 22 and 23being secured between frame I0 and fins 2| and adapted to swing the latter to the extended position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 for braking use.

The operation of the invention should be apparent from the foregoing description. It will be understood that compressed air may be supplied to cylinders I, I6, 22 and 23 by any suitable means, and suitably controlled. The device will normally be kept above the water line as shown in Fig. 1, however, whenever it is desired to be used, air pressure will be supplied to cylinders I and IS, the latter causing the release of hook I3, thus permitting frame l0 together with fins 2| to be dropped into the water at the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The air pressure in cylinder 1 will expedite this movement. Either or both of fins 2| can thereupon be extended by operation of air cylinders 22 and 23 and effective braking action of the ship will result. By using only one of the fins 2|, considerable steering effect may be released to assist the normal steering means of the ship. The fin mech- 1938, Serial No. 225,792

anism may be returned to normal position out of the water by supplying air pressure to cylinder 1 below piston 8, and frame II) will thereupon be held by hook 13 by engagement with abutment l2, hook I3 being returned to normal position by a spring 25 on rod IS in cylinder l6. From the foregoing description it will be clear that I have provided a very effective ship brake mechanism and that in case of a collision, small damage Would be done by the blunt formation of the ship brake instead of the sharp prow formation of most ships.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative only and not restrictive of my invention and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims, for example: the fins may be actuated by other means such as electrically, mechanically, hydraulically or otherwise.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. A ship brake of the class described, comprising, a housing secured above the water line of the bow of a ship, said housing being formed with a cylinder, a piston operable within said cylinder, a frame carried by said piston and having slidable engagement with said housing, a pair of fins pivotally attached to said frame, means for retaining said frame in raised position, and means for causing the lowering of said frame and fins.

2. A ship brake of the class described, comprising, a housing secured above the water line of the bow of a ship, said housing being formed. with a cylinder, a piston attached to one end of a rod operable within said cylinder, a frame carried by the other end of said rod and having slidable engagement with the exterior of said housing, a pair of fins pivotally attached to said frame, means for actuating said fins, means for retaining said frame in raised position, and means for causing the lowering of said frame and fins.

3. A ship brake of the class described, comprising, a housing secured above the water line of the bow of a ship, said housing being formed with a cylinder, a piston attached to one end of a rod operable within said cylinder, a frame carried by the other end of said rod and having slidable engagement with the exterior of said housing, a pair of fins pivotally attached to said frame, means for actuating said fins, means for retaining said frame in raised position, said means including a cylinder disposed above said housing, a piston operable therein, a hook carried by one end of said second-mentioned piston having engagement with the upper end of said frame, and means for releasing said hook for causing the lowering of said frame and fins.

4. A ship brake of the class described, comprising, a housing secured above the water line of the bow of a ship, said hous'mg being formed with a cylinder, a piston operable within said 10 cylinder, a frame carried by said piston and hav ing slidable engagement with said housing, a pair of fins pivotally attached to said frame, means for actuating said fins, said means including compressed air cylinders having one end attached to said frame and the other end attached to said fins, means for retaining said frame in raised position, and means for causing the lowering of said frame.

JOHN G. DUNKLIN. 

